Why is armor important in Fallen Earth?

Fallen Earth includes a selection of armor designed to protect characters from head to toe, with items in nineteen different armor slots, including feet, hands, shirt, jacket, and head. Initially, the armor items in these categories will reflect either the remnants of old-world technology or things that survivors have cobbled together from the materials at hand, which can include anything from work gloves and spiked handwraps to combat boots and riot vests. You’ll see things like motorcycle jackets and Kevlar right alongside scrap-metal plating and sandworm hides.

As the game includes a dozen or so different types of damage, not every type of armor can be effective against every type of damage. While a Kevlar vest is highly bullet resistant, it won’t do much against electrical- or cold-based attacks. An armored suit of sandworm hide may provide great acid resistance, but it will leave you vulnerable to fire. Characters may sometimes need to equip a gas mask or other specific item based on the threats they face. So if you’re up against a Giant Roach and its general nastiness, you’ll probably want to jump into some disease-resistant gear if you have it.

With this system, players are free to mix and match armors of different types to suit their needs, while also creating a unique look for their characters. Add in the faction-specific armor at the high end, and Fallen Earth players have a wide variety of practical and unusual gear possibilities. In addition to these specific resistances, each armor item has its own style and stat modifiers.

Crafters are an important part of the armor system because they make all kinds of armor, whether based on the skins of mutant beast or advanced polymers and composite materials. They also find plenty of work repairing used armor and gear. Armor wears down as it takes damage, so characters in dangerous environments for too long risk having their protective gear fail, which leaves them vulnerable. To repair a worn-out item in the field, crafters will need an Armorcraft Repair Kit.